A Description of the Video Voiceover and Dubbing Process
Laying the Foundation
When versioning a video from English to another language, our Best Practices include taking extra steps at the outset to ensure that the new voiceover will fit the visual cues in the video. The biggest issue in versioning existing videos (as opposed to creating the video around a voiceover) is that most languages
expand during the translation process from English and, not only that, but word order can differ radically from one language to another. These predictable differences between languages make it very likely that – unless specific steps are taken — the target language voiceover
will not fit the timing parameters of the original video, which is in sync with the original English voiceover.
Fighting this inevitable problem and keeping it from sabotaging projects is a four-step process:
1 First, we create our own time-coding of the English language script, marking any visual cues or “sync points” that the new voiceover will need to hit. This time code is fundamentally different from the time code generated for subtitles or the timecode that occurs in the video creation process. We use our own, proprietary method to create this essential time code. Since the target language will not necessarily follow the word order of the original English, we need to make sure that when the script is translated, it is done so that the new VO will properly sync to the video. We consider this step crucial, for if the foundation is not correctly built, the final product will most likely not stand up properly. In other words, the new voiceover will not sync correctly with the existing onscreen images and transitions, despite the very best of editing and post-production.
2 The script is then translated meticulously to our time code. This is a very different translation process from straight (wild) translation when timing parameters are unimportant, and we use only translators experienced in this specific craft to create a perfect translation that is — by definition — about 10-20% shorter that it would be without the extra effort. After more than a decade of localizing videos, we know that not taking this into consideration is the most common mistake usually made when versioning a video from English into another language.
3 The voiceover is then recorded in a proprietary fashion with an eye to adjusting afterwards any small deviations from the visuals. We have spent more than a decade developing this method, and we consider it one of the key points that puts our video versioning above the rest. Recently, we were hired to version multiple videos for a Google subsidiary into Spanish, we were awarded the fun assignment of localizing the Legoland movie “Clutch Powers” into Turkish, and many more.
4 Finally, the target language voiceover is then synced to video in a meticulous process during which any micro-adjustments that may need to happen are taken care of, with a multi-lingual director present for accuracy. We use (again!) proprietary methods to shorten sections that may still be slightly long or not line up correctly, with a very natural and undetectable result.
When following the above procedures, we are able to save our clients costly re-recording expenses, and we have effectively taken the guesswork out of this mysterious process. We are able to do this in any language, as long as we have the original materials (video and English script). We have created perfect syncs for happy customers in languages such as Malayalam, Assamese, Hiligaynon, Russian, Hebrew and many more.
Quality Assurance
Our work is
guaranteed to sync, provided that we are allowed to create the time-coding that is the foundation of the entire process and the translation that makes it possible.
